At A Glance
ZooMontana and the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center are two incredible zoological offerings located in Montana, USA.
At ZooMontana in Billings, you can expect to encounter over 100 animals from various species, such as tigers, sloths, and bears across 70 acres.
It’s a medium-sized zoo geared towards family trips, and places a high emphasis on conservation and education.
The experience is welcoming to families with both older children and toddlers, and the pathways are wheelchair accessible.
Meanwhile, the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone provides an immersive experience focused on the rescue and conservation of wolves and grizzly bears, while also housing otters and birds of prey.
Covering 14 acres, it is a particularly attractive destination for families with older children and is also accessible for those with disabilities.
Both zoos allow you to bring in your own food and drink and offer free parking, though only ZooMontana has food stalls.
Neither allows pets, with the exception of service animals.
Find Out More About ZooMontana
- 2100 Shiloh Rd, Billings, MT 59106, United States
- 406-652-8100
- https://www.zoomontana.org/
Find Out More About Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center
- 201 S Canyon St, West Yellowstone, MT 59758, United States
- 800-257-2570
- https://www.grizzlydiscoveryctr.org/
Size
ZooMontana and Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, both located in Montana, USA, differ considerably in size.
ZooMontana, situated in the city of Billings, spans a substantial 70 acres offering a large variety of exhibits to explore.
Given its size, visitors should allocate approximately 2-3 hours to sufficiently experience all that this sizable zoo has to offer.
On the other hand, Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, located in West Yellowstone, is a smaller attraction nestled into 14 acres.
Despite its smaller footprint, the center densely packs in an array of exhibits, and visitors typically spend approximately 1.5 hours touring the facility.
So, while ZooMontana outranks the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in acreage, both zoos provide rich, immersive experiences that reveal the diverse wildlife of Montana.
Price
Both ZooMontana and Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center offer affordable options for a family day out.
An adult ticket at ZooMontana costs $12, which is cheaper than the $16.5 admission fee at Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center.
The price for a child’s ticket is also less at ZooMontana: $9 versus $11.5 at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center.
Concession tickets are slightly cheaper at ZooMontana, priced at $10, compared to $15.5 at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center.
The overall cost for a family of four is lower at ZooMontana, with the total coming to $44, as opposed to $56 at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center.
Moreover, ZooMontana allows children under the age of two to enter free of charge, while at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, children under four years get free entry.
The cost of an average family of 4 at ZooMontana is $44 compared to 56 at Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center.
Popular Animals
ZooMontana and the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center both feature an array of eye-catching animals, yet with some differences in their assortments.
ZooMontana presents a more diverse set of creatures to satisfy undiscriminating wildlife enthusiasts, boasting over 100 animals from different species, including tigers, sloths, and bears.
This medium-sized family trip destination certainly has an exotic, yet educational appeal.
On the other hand, the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center focuses more on regional fauna, with a prominent focus on bears, wolves, otters, and birds of prey.
They have concentrated their endeavors on maintaining a large-scale rescue and conservation center for local wildlife, particularly wolves and grizzly bears.
While it doesn’t divulge the exact number of animals in its care, the center certainly offers a unique, intimate experience with Montana’s wildlife.
Accesibility
Both ZooMontana and the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center offer excellent provisions for individuals with disabilities, specifically for those who utilize wheelchairs or may have difficulty walking lengthy distances.
The pathways in both of these establishments are wheelchair-friendly.
Whether taking a stroll amidst the tigers and bears of ZooMontana or exploring the wolves and otters at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, individuals with mobility challenges can comfortably navigate the walkways.
However, while they both offer accessibility, it’s essential to consider the overall size of the respective zoos.
ZooMontana encompasses 70 acres of area, suggesting a significantly more expansive space to traverse compared to the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center’s 14 acres.
While both provide facilities for individuals with disabilities, the difference in scale could be a factor in choosing between the two.
Nonetheless, both sanctuaries prioritize inclusivity and accessibility for everyone to enjoy.
Pefect For
Both ZooMontana and the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center are a great choice for families, as they cater to all age groups, give an insightful education about wildlife conservation and offer disability access with well facilitated walkways suitable for wheelchairs.
ZooMontana in Billings is a fantastic option if you’re planning a leisurely day out with toddlers or older children.
Spanning 70 acres, this medium-sized zoo’s diverse range of over 100 animals, including tigers, sloths, and bears, will keep the young ones engrossed for hours.
On the other hand, the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, known for its wolf and grizzly bear rescue and conservation work, is a larger zoo covering 14 acres and may be a more fitting choice if your family has older children, as it primarily features wolves, bears, otters, and birds of prey.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both ZooMontana and the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center offer unique, enriching experiences for animal enthusiasts and families alike.
They are both located in the beautiful state of Montana and place emphasis on providing conservation education alongside the opportunity to observe and engage with a variety of animals.
ZooMontana, located in Billings, is ideal for a longer family outing with a broad assortment of animals, like tigers, sloths, and bears, spread over 70 acres.
It is specially tailored for visits with children of different age groups and is wheelchair accessible.
The average visit time is 2-3 hours, and the cost for a family of four is $44, presenting an affordable option for family entertainment.
On the other hand, the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, although smaller, offers deeper immersion in the life of North American predators, specifically wolves, grizzly bears, and birds of prey.
The considerations for disabled visitors are equal, but the Discovery Center might be better suited for families with older children due to its focus on wolves and bears.
The cost is slightly higher, with a family of four paying $56, but the unique focus on predators might be memorable and unique.
Both attractions strongly discourage public transport, provide free parking and allow you to bring in your own food.
However, while ZooMontana also offers onsite food stalls, the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center does not.
Whether your interest lies in a wide array of animals or a focused view into the life of predators, both ZooMontana and Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, Montana’s two prime conservation-focused attractions, provide an excellent choice.
